China EV Maker Rolls Ahead with U.S. Plans

CH-Auto Technology Co.’s Qiantu Motors unit  will display its K50 electric sports car at the New York auto show in April as part of the Chinese company’s plans to launch sales in the U.S. next year.

Qiantu is partnering with California-based Mullen Technologies Inc. on the project. The vehicles will be assembled in the U.S., using components sourced from China. Pricing for the K50 is expected to start at more than $100,000.  

The K50 is built on a modular platform that can accommodate various battery configurations and other technologies. In China, the K50 is fitted with a 78-kWh battery that provides a 236-mile range.

The car's lightweight structure features a 515-lb aluminum body-in-white with 29 carbon-fiber body panels that weigh a total of 103 lbs. The design is 40% lighter than using steel, according to the partners.

Power comes from a pair of electric motors, which generate a combined 400 hp. The car also features a double-wishbone independent suspension and drivers will be able to select among various performance modes.

Qiantu was formed in 2015 by CH-Auto Technology Co., a Beijing-based design firm. The K50 was launched last summer in China.